Alice and Bob’s Debate: Art vs. Data

Alice and Bob are a couple of cinema directors in the region of California, in Hollywood. They have won every kind of award across the globe, by the power of them taking the ADA course and their movie direction passion! However, they still have one challenge, and it is not a small one: setting up a movie that will win an Oscar.

Bob thinks that they mastered the art of movie direction and that they should not rely on any data whatsoever, while Alice wants a more thorough analysis, stating that, nowadays, we could not skip data as it is one of the revolutions of our world, to have a further idea of how to get an Oscar.

Alice: "Bob, we’ve been phenomenal so far, but the Oscars? That’s a different beast. We need to strategize, and data analysis is the way forward."

Bob: "Alice, come on. We’re directors, not statisticians. We’ve mastered this craft with instinct, storytelling, and vision. Why complicate it with numbers?"

Alice: "Because numbers don’t lie, Bob. They tell us what resonates with the audience, what themes are trending, and what the Academy historically loves. Think about it. Every Oscar winner has a certain... formula."

Bob: "A formula? Really? You think we can boil down art to some algorithm? Art is passion, emotion, and risks, Alice. You can’t program that."

Alice: "No, but you can guide it. Look, take last year's Best Picture. The themes of Oppenheimer? Ethical and political struggles. The tone? Bittersweet but uplifting. The cast? Accurate. That wasn’t a coincidence, Bob."

Bob: "So what, you want me to pitch some cookie-cutter, Academy-friendly plot? That’s not us. That’s not me. We’re artists, not trend-chasers."

Alice: "Not trend-chasers, but trend-aware. You have to adapt. The industry is evolving, and data is part of the revolution. It’s not about copying; it’s about understanding the playing field. Then we innovate within it."

Bob: "Alright, Madame Analyst, what would this data-driven Oscar bait look like? Enlighten me."

They clink glasses, their collaboration set on a delicate balance of artistry and strategy.

The Problematic: What Makes an Oscar-Winning Movie or Actor?

Winning an Academy Award is the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, but what sets Oscar-winning movies and actors apart from the rest? Is it the genre, the budget, the cast dynamics, or something more intangible? On the other hand, what defines a performance worthy of an Oscar? Are there trends in the roles, collaborations, or demographics of winning actors?

Alice: "Bob, it’s not just about the movies. The actors play a crucial role too. A story can shine or fall apart depending on the performance."

Bob: "Sure, Alice, but are you really going to tell me there’s a pattern to Oscar-worthy performances? Isn’t acting about pure talent?"

Our Question

What are the key factors that define Oscar-winning movies and actors? For movies, we explore patterns in genres, budgets, storytelling, and audience appeal. For actors, we investigate trends in roles, demographics, and collaborations. Can we uncover the shared traits of those who stand out on Hollywood’s biggest stage?

Bob: "You know, Alice, I think you just want to crunch numbers because it’s easier than figuring out what makes a great actor tick."

Alice: "It’s not about reducing art to numbers, Bob. It’s about understanding the patterns behind success, so we can innovate with purpose."

Why It Matters

For filmmakers, this analysis offers a roadmap to craft stories that resonate with audiences and critics alike. For actors, it highlights the roles and characteristics that often capture the Academy’s attention. For fans, it reveals the trends that define our cultural milestones. And for the industry, it bridges creativity and strategy in an era where data shapes decisions as much as inspiration.

Meet the Team

Behind every great project is a dedicated team, and this one is no exception. We’re a group of five passionate individuals, combining our expertise in data analysis, visualization, and storytelling to uncover the secrets of Oscar success. With a shared love for cinema and a knack for digging into the details, we’re here to bridge the gap between art and data.

Yassine Mustapha Wahidy

The Goat

Amine Bengelloun

The Goat

William Jallot

The Goat

Thierry Sokhn

The Goat

Khalil Ouazzani Chahdi

The Goat

Alice: "You know, Bob, I bet this team could win an award for 'Best Data-Driven Storytelling'. Just look at how well we work together!"

Bob: "Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Alice. Let’s crack the Oscar code first, then we’ll talk about trophies for ourselves."

Movie Dataset: A Fusion of Insights

The foundation of our analysis is a dataset that blends the best of historical and modern data. This dataset combines two complementary sources:

CMU Movie Dataset: A detailed and structured dataset offering historical information about movies, including genres, directors, box office data, and more.
Wikipedia Scraping: Fresh data scraped from Wikipedia, covering movies released between 2015 and 2024. This ensures our analysis reflects the most recent trends in cinema.

By merging these datasets, we created a unified resource that provides a comprehensive view of Oscar-worthy films, combining historical context with contemporary insights.

Key Features of the Dataset

The dataset includes several important variables that form the basis of our analysis:

Title and Release Date: Captures the movie name and release year, enabling chronological analysis of trends.
Genres: Categories such as drama, comedy, action, and biopics, helping us identify which genres dominate the awards.
Box Office Revenue: Financial performance metrics to explore whether profitability correlates with critical acclaim.
Awards: Data on Oscar nominations and wins, including the number of Oscars received and categories awarded.
Runtime: The length of each movie, providing insights into whether longer films are more likely to win awards.
Languages and Countries: Geographic and linguistic data to analyze trends in international and domestic cinema.
Capital Cost: Production costs, highlighting the impact of budget size on success.

Bob: "So, Alice, you’re telling me this dataset is like the perfect movie—it has everything: history, modernity, and a touch of intrigue."

Alice: "Exactly, Bob. Combining CMU’s depth with Wikipedia’s freshness gives us the best of both worlds. It’s the ultimate resource for decoding Oscars success."

Initial Observations

Before diving deep, we noticed some interesting trends while exploring the dataset:

Genres: Drama is a perennial favorite for the Oscars, but socially conscious films and biopics have gained prominence in recent years.
Box Office: While higher budgets and revenues often align with awards, there are notable exceptions where smaller productions shine.
Runtime: Movies with runtimes exceeding two hours tend to dominate critical acclaim.
International Recognition: The past decade has seen an increase in recognition for non-English films, marking a shift in Academy preferences.

Alice: "Bob, even these early patterns show how much we can learn. It’s not just about intuition—it’s about seeing the bigger picture."

Bob: "Alright, alright, I’ll admit it. This data is like a movie trailer—it’s got me intrigued. Let’s get to the good stuff."

Graph 1 Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus fermentum felis sit amet arcu faucibus.

Graph 2 Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque tincidunt, odio vel auctor consequat.

Movie Analysis: Unveiling the Secrets of Success

What sets Oscar-winning movies apart? Is it their genre, runtime, or perhaps their thematic depth? Using our data, we analyze key factors that differentiate award-winning films from the rest. From runtime and revenue to global trends, we uncover patterns that define success in cinema.

1. Global Distribution of Oscar-Winning Movies

Oscar winners predominantly hail from Hollywood, yet contributions from other regions are growing. This highlights a trend toward greater diversity in Academy recognition, but the dominance of the western world remains strong.

Alice: "Look at that, Bob. Hollywood is still the star of the show, but it’s great to see international contributions rising."

Bob: "Sure, Alice. But let’s not kid ourselves—Hollywood’s still running the game."

Map of Oscar-Winning Movies by Country

2. Runtime: Is Longer Always Better?

Runtime Distribution of Oscar-Winning Movies

The majority of Oscar-winning films have a runtime of 120–150 minutes. Shorter films (less than 90 minutes) are rare winners, suggesting the Academy prefers movies with more time to develop their narrative complexity.

Bob: "So, Alice, the secret is to make it long enough for the audience to feel every minute of their ticket price."

Alice: "Not quite, Bob. It’s about telling a detailed story that captures attention—not just filling time."

3. Title and Theme Analysis

Oscar-winning movies often showcase themes of love, war, and personal struggles. But what about the movies that didn’t win? By comparing title keywords from winners and non-winners, we can uncover what sets these two groups apart.

Word Cloud of Oscar-Winning Movie Titles

Word Cloud of Non-Oscar-Winning Movie Titles

Oscar Winners

Word clouds of Oscar-winning movie titles reveal recurring themes that resonate with the Academy. Words like "Love," "King," and "War" dominate, reflecting a preference for emotionally and historically significant narratives.

Non-Oscar Winners

In contrast, non-winning movies often focus on lighter or niche themes, with titles emphasizing adventure, humor, or less traditional narratives. These differences suggest the Academy’s preferences lean toward impactful, serious storytelling.

Alice: "See those words, Bob? ‘Love,’ ‘King,’ ‘War’—they scream depth and emotion."

Bob: "I guess we need a tragic love story set during a war. Call it ‘The King’s Heartache.’"

4. Box Office: Does Money Buy Awards?

Box office performance correlates with Oscar nominations, but high-budget films don’t always guarantee success. Consistency and storytelling often outweigh financial clout.

Bob: "So big budgets help, but they’re not everything. Underdogs have a shot too."

Alice: "Exactly, Bob. It’s about balance—using resources wisely to tell a compelling story."

Box Office Correlation with Oscar Nominations

5. Release Timing: The Award Season Advantage

Monthly Distribution of Oscar-Winning Movies

Award-winning movies are often released closer to award season, maximizing their visibility to the Academy. December and January releases tend to perform better, aligning with voting cycles.

Alice: "Timing is everything, Bob. Release too early, and you risk being forgotten by the time voting starts."

Bob: "Good to know, Alice. Let’s aim for a December release for maximum impact."

Actor Analysis